74 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



these birds are about our sluggish and marshy river. 

 We must attract them from a wide section, of country. 

 It abounds in those fenny districts and meadow pond- 

 holes in which they delight. 



April 15, 1855. Returning, we had a fine view of 

 a blue heron, standing erect and open to view on a 

 meadow island, by the great swamp south of the bridge, 

 looking as broad as a boy on the side, and then some 

 sheldrakes sailing in the smooth water beyond. These 

 soon sailed behind points of meadow. The heron flew 

 away, and one male sheldrake flew past us low over 

 the water, reconnoitring, large and brilliant black and 

 white. When the heron takes to flight, what a change 

 in size and appearance ! It is presto change ! There go 

 two great undulating wings pinned together, but the 

 body and neck must have been left behind somewhere. 



Aug. 5, 1855. As I was paddling back at 6 A. M., 

 saw, nearly half a mile off, a blue heron standing erect 

 on the topmost twig of the great buttonwood on the 

 street in front of Mr. Priehard's house, 1 while perhaps 

 all within were abed and asleep. Little did they think 

 of it, and how they were presided over. He looked at 

 first like a spiring twig against the sky, till you saw him 

 flap his wings. Presently he launched off and flew away 

 over Mrs. Brooks's house. 



Oct. 29, 1855. Returning, I scare up a blue heron 

 from the bathing-rock this side the Island. It is whitened 

 by its droppings, in great splotches a foot or more 

 wide. He has evidently frequented it to watch for fish 

 there. 



1 [In the centre of the village of Concord.] 



